YTD Equity Return vs. U.S. In 2025, the relative outperformance of international stocks compared to U.S. equities has underscored the benefits of diversification for investors so far. Image: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research
Median Stock Short Interest as Share of Market Capitalization While the S&P 500’s median short interest is currently low by historical standards, Consumer Staples, Utilities, and Health Care sectors are notable exceptions, showing elevated short…
Hedge Fund and Mutual Fund Equity Exposure In a sign of optimism about the current economic climate, hedge funds and mutual funds have collectively increased their stakes in U.S. equities, which paints a picture of…
Citi Economic Surprise Index The falling Citi U.S. Economic Surprise Index indicates that economic data is no longer surpassing expectations, but this doesn’t necessarily signal a sudden economic downturn. Image: Bloomberg
Annual Change in Gold Demand Central banks’ gold demand has grown by 11.5% annually since 2019, fueling the current price rally as they aim to diversify reserves. While gold excels as a crisis hedge, it…
S&P 500 Bull Markets The current bull market, which began in October 2022, is showing potential for continued growth at 28 months old. Historically, bull markets have lasted an average of 5.5 years since 1949,…
ISABELNET Cartoon of the Day As the S&P 500 stumbled last week, the bear emerged from hibernation, chainsaw in hand, ready to break the bull market. With a sly grin, it whispered to the bull,…
Sentiment – 5-Day Put/Call Volume Ratio The 5-day moving average of the put/call volume ratio has hit its lowest point since late 2021’s bull market peak. Sustained low readings in this ratio often indicate market…
Small-Caps: Upper End of Long-Term Range The combination of historical patterns, attractive valuations, and positive earnings growth forecasts suggests that U.S. small-caps may be well-positioned for a period of outperformance in the near future. Image:…
Gold Consecutives Weekly Gains A perfect storm of factors—including inflation worries, robust central bank purchases, geopolitical uncertainties, and favorable monetary policies—has propelled gold prices upward for eight consecutive weeks. Image: The Daily Shot
Fed Balance Sheet Goldman Sachs predicts the Fed will slow its balance sheet reduction in June 2025 and end quantitative tightening by September, which could influence market liquidity and interest rates. Image: Goldman Sachs Global…